Stages of Pregnancy and Pregnancy Tips

What to expect and tips to stay healthy during your pregnancy

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Being pregnant is amazing. During the 40 weeks of the pregnancy calendar your body experiences incredible change. Read on to find out what to expect during the three stages of pregnancy (trimesters), plus, learn some good tips to keep you and your baby healthy.

First Trimester (weeks 1-12)

There’s a lot going on inside your body right now. Every bit of you is beginning to discover what it means to be pregnant. This can include:

Extreme tiredness

Morning sickness

Tender or swollen breasts

Food cravings

Mood swings

Weight gain

Second Trimester (weeks 13-28)

You may find this trimester easier than the first. As morning sickness and tiredness fade, your bump will begin to show more. Before long, you’ll feel your baby move. You’ll also experience:

Aches in your back, tummy and groin

Stretch marks

Numb or tingling hands

Slight swelling of the ankles, fingers and face

Third Trimester (weeks 29-40)

You’ll now have a football ball sized bump. You’ll feel discomfort as your baby presses against your organs. As well as the need to go to the toilet more often, you also notice:

Shortness of breath

More pronounced swelling of the ankles, fingers and face (If this becomes extreme, contact your health care professional immediately)

Tender breasts, which may leak a watery pre-milk fluid (colostrum)

Trouble sleeping

Top tips to prevent illness during pregnancy

Don’t ignore your body’s changes – a little person is growing inside you. Use these pregnancy tips to make some changes too: